Till 10 years do us part

By Ermin Garcia Jr.

HERE’S that news item that’s been talked about in many circles but that most are not willing to go public with their thoughts for fear of needlessly incriminating themselves over a non-issue (for now).

The item:  A small women’s group that evidently caters to the plight of abused wives has this proposition: make marriages’ validity only for 10 years, and renewable thereafter.

Surprisingly, not one of the macho partylist groups led by men, has responded with any reaction or thoughts of their own. Can you imagine a husband advocating even for a 20-year validity? Not on their lives! The consequence will be fast and furious and, alas, since we live in a matriarchal society, there are still no ‘Men’s Desk’ in police stations that look after abused and battered husbands.

The initial reaction of most to the proposition was to laugh. An absurd thought, others say. Still others ask, “Why not?” Then the incorrigible lover boys and insatiable playful girls dish out their own chorus – “Make that 2 years, max!”.

Here was one exchange that amused me to no end.  One housewife who desperately wants out of her marriage bewailed that the male-dominated Congress will never hear of it since the proposition had the welfare of women in mind.  The men in the group smiled slyly.  “That’s what you think,” whispered one to another but he was overheard by another wife in the group.  “You mean, you men will support it too?”  came the quick rejoinder.  The brave husband replied “A lot more husbands suffer quietly unlike wives who publicly complain they are battered wives. ” The room saw a lot of raised eyebrows among the wives.

Finally, one know-it-all wife said – “On second thought, let’s junk that silly idea.  The arrangement today is still the best.” End of discussion and the men groaned as they walked away disappointed in their wives’ final consensus.

Whatever the consensus may be in your own circle of friends, I say the battered wives and husbands certainly want it, but the abused and battered legislators will certainly not risk supporting the proposition lest they aggravate their agony at home.

So, like it or not, it’s still going to be “Till death do us part” until a spouse gets the courage to admit to insanity, a convenient cause for separation or dissolution of marriage.  (Curiously, many accede if only to get out of their suffering not realizing that the public records will forever bear that note that he or she was insane for a time).

So perhaps the proposition will gain more support in Congress if the measure is intended mainly as a tool to curb the increasing number of insane persons in the country, and not for the battered spouses’ welfare trapped in a marriage gone wrong.

* * * * *

ALLIES OR FOES? I’m beginning to wonder whose side the governor’s brother and Smiley PD Barba are on.  Is it possible they have made a deal with Guv Spines’ political arch foe, Cong. Victor Agbayani, behind his back?

Their recent initiatives on the shotgun vis-à-vis the gun ban issue certainly can’t be interpreted to bode well for the Guv’s politics.

Just when I thought Mr. Barba finally saw the light in rejecting outright the barangay kapitans’ appeals to retain possession of their shotguns, he came back to say he’s now inclined to evaluate each request and may grant exemptions!

Then, Liga ng mga Barangay president Amadeo Espino, obviously still unaffected by the imbroglio brought upon the shoulders of his brother Guv on account of the misuse of the shotguns by a number of his members, wrote to the Comelec requesting blanket exemption from the gun ban for all his members!

I am certain that the duo is aware that there is a political crisis waiting to blow up in the face of Guv Spines during the campaign if the shotguns remain in the possession of the kapitans any longer.  Imagine a kapitan merely pointing his shotgun to intimidate followers of a contra-partido candidate, etc., somebody I know will go to town accusing Guv Spines of irresponsible governance. That will surely put Guv Spines in a no-win defense mode in the campaign trail.

And yet the two, as if on cue, are fighting for the retention of the shotguns by the untrained and partisan kapitans.  Why?

With relatives and allies like them, Guv Spines surely doesn’t need more enemies. Or is it possible that Guv Spines is already being blackmailed by the kapitans over the shotguns?

Whatever the case, my sixth political sense tells me Cong. Victor is quietly praying for the two to succeed in their initiative.  Careful, Guv Spines!

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